We are hot in the tax filing season. Here are some last-minute tips to ensure that you can avoid a scammer and that your personal information remains secure while you file your income taxes.
·
File early. OK, it might be too late for
this tip during this tax season, but you can think about filing early for next
year. The idea is to file your return before cybercriminals have the time to file
a fake return in your name and collect any refunds that should belong to you.
·
Use an IP PIN. An Identity Protection PIN
is a unique six-digit number that the IRS issues to taxpayers that ask for one.
The IP PIN acts as a second method to verify you as you. If your Social
Security number has been involved in a data breach, the National Cybersecurity
Alliance (NCA) recommends that you apply for an IP PIN. The pin is a number
that only you and the IRS know. You should not share it with anyone, and you
should guard it like you do for your other sensitive personal information.
·
Enable MFA. This is being repeated by
cybersecurity professionals (for some it might be ad nauseum) but it is
important to enable Multifactor Authentication for each of your online
accounts. The purpose is to deter cybercriminals, who may have harvested your
ID and password to any of your accounts, from gaining access to your accounts
with only your password. If you did not initiate a login to one of your
accounts and you receive a code through a text message or your authenticator
app then you should not approve the login. Be aware that there have been cases
where hackers have attempted to login to accounts multiple times within a short
period of time until the legitimate account holder gives up and approves the
login. Also, some scammers try to convince their victims to respond to a code.
Never give anyone an MFA code!
·
Watch out for scammers. Scammers
frequently impersonate IRS agents or employees. They will contact you via
email, text, or phone. Sometimes scammers will also send a letter via mail
claiming to be from the IRS. The IRS says that it will not initiate contact via
email, text, or phone. It initially contacts taxpayers via the U.S, Mail. In instances
where it contacts a taxpayer by phone or a visit at a home or business, the IRS
has sent multiple notices via the mail. Also, the IRS will not demand immediate
payment to be paid to any other entity than the U.S. Treasury.
Red flags to look out for include,
·
Requests for data such as bank account
information, Social Security numbers, login credentials, or mailing addresses.
·
Communications that try to impose a sense of
urgency by scaring you or coercing you into acting right away.
·
Attachments included in any message. Opening an
attachment can endanger your computer to malware or viruses.
·
Impersonating tax preparers. Scammers also impersonate
employees from TurboTax and H&R Block. Tax preparers will not initiate contact with
you through phone, email, or text message asking for your login information.
The danger of scammers impersonating the IRS is throughout
the year, not just during the income tax filing season. Keep these tips in mind
if you receive an unexpected email, text message, or phone call from someone
claiming to be from the IRS.
National Cybersecurity Alliance:
NBC News:
https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/s-need-know-tax-season-scams-rcna139839
IRS:
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-scamsconsumer-alerts?s=09
https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/tax-scams-how-to-report-them
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